A group of enthusiastic OLMC students stepped into the shoes of global leaders at the Blacktown Girls High Model United Nations (MUN) event on Sunday, 3 May. Representing countries from across the world, our students embraced the challenge of public speaking, negotiation, and diplomacy, all while tackling complex global issues in a supportive and collaborative setting.
Despite it being for many, their first MUN experience, students remarked on how quickly they picked up the format and gained confidence. Sahana Arudselvan, who represented Germany with Nikitha Arunkumar, said:
“I enjoyed how, despite being completely new to MUN, we were able to pick up how to do it. Although at times it was stressful trying to figure out if we should talk or not, we had a lot of fun. From this experience I learnt not to be scared of trying new things. Once you do they may not be bad at all.”
Arya Chamola, representing Malaysia, reflected on the personal growth and social connections the day offered:
“I learned so much, made new friends, had fun, and worked on skills such as teamwork and negotiation – an important skill you will need in your life for leadership, jobs, and everyday life.”
For Isabella Salloum and Vrinda Kumar, who represented Ethiopia, the experience highlighted the importance of confidence when speaking in a formal debate:
“We learnt that confidence is key when debating certain amendments.”
Anmol Kirpal, representing Canada, relished the opportunity to speak on the topic of conscription and grow their teamwork and critical thinking skills:
“Representing Canada at MUN with my delegate Annane was a great experience. I enjoyed debating conscription, hearing different views, and learning how to negotiate and speak confidently. It was fun and challenging to represent a real country on a serious global issue.”
Even those tasked with more controversial roles, such as Aditi Shetty and Molly Lewis, who represented North Korea, came away with valuable insights:
“We learnt a lot about how the Model UN worked and we now know that we don’t want to represent North Korea again. No one wanted to work with us!”
A special congratulations goes to Amariah Tamaro and Nehal Wadhwa representing the United Kingdom, and Vrinda Kumar and Isabella Salloum representing Ethiopia, who were both awarded Best Delegation. Aarna Gaur, Divena Sundaram, and Arya Chamola were also recognised as Best Speakers - a well-deserved honour that highlights their confidence and persuasive skills.
The event proved to be a fun, challenging, and inspiring experience that gave our students a taste of real-world diplomacy, while building vital communication, leadership, and collaboration skills. We are incredibly proud of all who participated and look forward to more MUN adventures in the future.
Mrs Jody Gilroy
Head of Library Services